Busan’s employment rate has hit an all-time high, signaling strong economic momentum driven by investment and workforce development.
According to Statistics Korea, the city’s overall employment rate in June reached 59.0%, the highest since records began, while the unemployment rate dropped to 2.6%.
Despite population decline, Busan saw a five-month streak of job growth, reaching 1.717 million employed, up 15,000 from last year.
The number of regular wage workers surpassed 1 million for the first time, while non-wage jobs declined, showing a shift toward stable employment.
Manufacturing jobs rose by 12,000, bucking national trends. Busan also secured over 3 trillion won in new investment in the first half of 2025, including R&D centers from Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries.
With initiatives like the Busan Digital Innovation Academy and the RISE university program, the city continues to align employment with future industries and regional innovation.
